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The Best First Step on Your Journey to Published 9/21/2015 2:40:54 PM by: Eva Marie Everson

by, Eva Marie Everson~ Co-director of FCWC, President of Word Weavers International

I was fortunate recently to be asked to participate in a Tyndale Publishing House event, Francine Rivers and Friends. This event, held in Plano, Texas at one of the largest mega-churches in the nation, hosted 825 guests for an evening of sweets, trivia games, giveaways, and (of course) to hear Francine Rivers and her "friends" speak a little about themselves and their books.

I got to be one of the "friends."

After the main part of the event, desserts and coffee (etc.) were served in a large foyer. Francine (being the star of the show) had a table at the front of the room where folks could come and, with their newly purchased book, say hello and get her autograph. We "friends" had smaller tables where folks could do the same ... only they'd get our autograph.
I probably signed "Eva Marie Everson" a little over 100 times that evening and experienced the delight of saying hello and chatting briefly with those who'd purchased Five Brides.

One such "fan" said to me, "Do you have a minute for me to ask you a quick question about writing?"

I told her I did.

"I'm young--obviously--and I want to get started in writing. What should I do first? Where should I put my attentions?"

"That's easy," I said. "Get yourself to a writers conference." (Of course, I told her about FCWC!)

"Can you tell me why that was your quick answer?" she asked. By now a small crowd had gathered around us.

"I can," I said. "First, you have a world of workshops for various levels of writing, not to mention genres. There are general sessions where you will hear either one of several experts talk about craft or the life of a writer. Always encouraging. You have opportunities to meet with agents, editors, and other freelance experts who can help you when it comes to getting published. But best of all--as if that's not enough--the networking. Getting to chat with other writers, some just like you, some who have already walked where you are walking right now and can help you with the next steps. These are only a few reasons why you want to attend a writers conference."

By now I realized I had enthralled the crowd (what can I say). Several asked about the conference (Florida) again. Then, after being thanked, I went back to signing my name.

When the evening came to a close I thought more about the question the young woman had asked. I was not concerned that I'd not given her the right answer, mind you, but more concerned that so many writer-wannabes don't have this answer at their fingertips. They don't know what they don't know.

What about your experiences? What reasons do you attend conferences? And, for those of you who are alumni, why do you keep coming back to Florida Christian Writers Conference?

~Eva Marie Everson--one of the original five members of Word Weavers--is a multiple award-winning, best-selling author and speaker. Known as a Southern fiction writer and Bible scholar, Eva Marie teaches at writers conferences, has spoken in churches and special events for women across the country and Canada. In 2011 she served as an adjunct profession at Taylor University. Some of Eva Marie's most notable works are:Reflections of God's Holy Land; Sex, Lies, and the Media, The Potluck Club (series); Things Left Unspoken; Chasing Sunsets; Waiting for Sunrise; Unconditional(novelization of the movie by the same title), The Road to Testament; and Five Brides. Eva Marie is the president of Word Weavers International, the vice president of writer enrichment for BelieversTrust, the acq. ed. for Firefly Southern Fiction and a freelance workshop leader for AAA. Eva Marie lives with her husband, one dog and a chicken. She is a mother and a grandmother.